Time Magazine names Donald Trump person of the year

Time Magazine named United States president-elect Donald Trump its person of the year on Wednesday, citing the upheaval in US politics brought about by the New York businessperson’s election campaign and victory.

“It’s hard to measure the scale of his disruption,” Time said in its announcement, noting Trump’s career as real estate magnate and reality television star before he won the presidency on November 8.

The Republican president-elect, who will be sworn in on January 20, ran an unconventional and controversial campaign against Democrat Hillary Clinton. Time noted that views of him were deeply divided.

“For those who believe this is all for the better, Trump’s victory represents a long-overdue rebuke to an entrenched and arrogant governing class,” the magazine said.

“For those who see it as for the worse, the destruction extends to cherished norms of civility and discourse, a politics poisoned by vile streams of racism, sexism, nativism.”

The magazine said its shortlist for person of the year included Clinton, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and singer Beyonce.

“It’s a great honour, it means a lot,” Trump told NBC’s “Today” show in an interview shortly after the announcement.

Time makes its annual choice based on the impact a person has on world events, for better or for worse. Last year the magazine chose German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Previous winners have ranged from Mahatma Gandhi to Adolf Hitler. - Reuters